Windowed dispenser container and blank therefor



June 7, 1966 c. E. PALMER 3,254,793

WINDOWED DISPENSER CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed June 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /4 INVENTOR.

' CHARLES E.PALMER BYgt/XM ATTORNEY C. E. PALMER June. 7, 1966 WINDOWED DISPENSER CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed June 26, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHAR LES E. PALM ER ATTORNEY C- E. PALMER June 7, 1966 WINDOWED DISPENSER CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed June 26, 1963 5 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. PALMER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,254,793 WINDOWED DISPENSER CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Charles E. Palmer, Somers, Conn, assignor to Monsanto Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,720 8 Claims. (Cl. 221--63) The present invention relates to dispenser containers,

and, more particularly, to a novel windowed dispenser container and to the blank therefor.

Many dispenser containers are provided with dispensing cutouts in the sheets material of one or more wall panels through which the contents may be extracted. Such dispenser containers have been widely utilized for various types of goods but have been especially dominant for dispensing facial tissues and like paper products. In merchandising various products wherein the container is generally exposed to view during use, there has been a tendency to upgrade the package design so that it no longer merely serves to attract the eye of the purchaser but also provides pleasing and attractive appearance during the continuing exposure over the period of use in the purchasers homeor ofiice, and this tendency has also appeared in the design of dispenser containers.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a novel antd highly attractive dispenser container having a paperboard frame with a window therein which cooperates with the frame to provide a relatively strong and utilitarian assembly.

Another aim is to provide such a container having a relatively large window with a dispensing aperture therein and having a removable cover portion for preventing the entrance of contaminants through the dispensing aperture.

A further object is toprovide such a container which may be manufactured economically and easily and which is readily adaptable to a plurality of designs and configurations.

Still another object is to provide a blank which may be economically fabricated and readily assembled into such a novel and highly attractive dispenser container having a window of synthetic plastic sheet material with a dispensing aperture therein.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed specification and the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a windowed dispenser container embodying the present invention with the removable cover portion partially removed and the contents totally removed for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view to a reduced scale of the inner surface of a blank for the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dispenser container of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view to a reduced scale of the inner surface of a blank for the container of FIGURE 4.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related aims may be readily attained in a container having a frame of relatively rigid and opaque sheet material such as paperboard and defined by a plurality of wall panels, a window of semi-rigid synthetic plastic sheet material with a dispensing aperture therein and means securing the window to the frame. The frame overlaps marginal portions of the window and has a removable cover portion which extends across the dispensing aperture to block the passage of contaminants therethrough into the container. As more fully described hereinafter, the cover portion may be a portion of the paperboard frame overlying the dis- 3,254,793 Patented June 7, 1966 pensing aperture and circumscribed by a weakening or tear line in the material of the frame for complete removal at the time of first use, or it may be a hingedly connected lid which may be repeatedly lifted from and replaced over the dispensing aperture. Thus, the dispensing aperture is closed for shipping and storage purposes and readily exposed during use, and the contents of the container may be viewed and the remaining quantity readily estimated.

To display a large area of the contents of the container, the window desirably extends about at least one edge of the container into two or more wall panels and, accordingly, has at least one linear fold therein. Although the paperboard frame may be provided by cap-type members on the ends of a window member formed into a tubular body portion, the frame preferably is integrally formed with a window aperture defined therein with marginal portions about the window aperture overlapping the corresponding marginal portions of the window and secured thereto, conveniently by'an interposed layer of adhesive.

The container of the present invention may be quickly and economically formed from a blank having a window of semi-rigid synthetic plastic sheet material with a dispensing aperture therein which is secured to a frame of paperboard material which overlaps marginal portions of the window. The frame has weakening lines therein which define folds to be made in forming the container and is adapted to provide a removable cover portion extending over the dispensing aperture in the erected container. For rapid and convenient cold-folding of the blank, the techniques disclosed in applicants copending United States application Serial Number 191,018, filed April 30, 1962, and entitled, Container and Method of Making Same, now Patent No. 3,199,670, may be utilized or the window may be secured to the frame at one side of the fold line only to permit relative slippage between the window on the other side of the fold line and the other panels of the frame during the folding process. A general disclosure for a method and apparatus for cold-folding unscored synthetic plastic sheet material is found in applicants United States Patent Number 2,954,725, issued October 4, 1960, and entitled, Method and Apparatus for Folding Plastic Sheet Stock. To permit folding of the container on conventional folding equipment, the window may be scored along the fold line albeit with loss in strength.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGURES 1-3 illustrate a windowed dispenser container embodying the present invention and having a frame of paperboard sheet material generally designated by the numeral 2 and a window of semirig-id synthetic plastic sheet material generally designated by the numeral 4. As best seen in the illustration of the blank in FIGURE 3, the paperboard frame 2 is integrally formed and is provided with longitudinal score or weakening lines 6 and cut so as to define rear wall panel 8, top wall panel 10, front wall panel 12, bottom wall panel 14, and a locking flap 16 which will define a gene-rally rectangular body in the erected container. End wall fiaps 18, 20 are hingedly connected to the sides of the top and bottom wall panels 10, 14 and dust flaps 22, 24 are hingedly connected to the front and rear wall panels 12, 8 at the weakening lines 25. In erecting the blank, adhesive (not shown) is interposed between and bonds the locking flap 16 to the rear wall panel 8 to form the rectangular body and the flaps 18 and 20 to the flaps 22 and 24 to form the end wall panels and to lock the container into its erected position.

Goods such as facial tissues (not shown) received within the container may be readily observed through the relatively large window aperture 26 defined in the top wall panel 10 and front wall panel 12 by the removable cover portion 28 in the blank provided by the tear or weakening line 30 which is conveniently formed by a series of perforations in the paperboard frame 2 in accordanc with conventional practice. In the front wall panel 12 of the frame, a small portion of th tear line 30 is formed by a curvilinear incision indicated by the numeral 32 which provides a finger tap 34 on the removable cover portion 28 by which the cover portion may be conveniently gripped for removal.

Referring now in detail to the window 4, the configuration and construction thereof also are best seen in the blank illustrated in FIGURE 3. The window 4 is of rectangular configuration and dimensioned larger than the window aperture 26 so that the marginal portions of the frame 2 adjacent the window aperture 26 overlap the corresponding marginal portions of the window 4. Goods received within the container may be easily removed through the relatively large dispensing aperture 36 in the window 4 which lies within the margins of the window aperture 26 in the frame 2 when the protective cover portion 28 is removed. As seen in FIGURE 1, the window 4 is folded about the fold line 38 registering with a weakening lin 6 in the paperboard frame 2 to form a top wall portion 40 and a front wall portion 42.

In this embodiment, the window 4 is secured to the paperboard frame 2 by a layer of adhesive 44 interposed between and bonding the plastic window 4 andpaperboard frame 2 along the overlapping .side margins of the top wall panel and top wall portion 40. Thus, when the blank is folded about the weakening line 6a which intersects the side margins of the Window 4, relative slippage may occur between the front wall panel 12 and the front wall portion 42 of the window 4 to accommodate the thickness of the synthetic plastic material at the rectilinear fold by downward displacement. Although cold-folding of an unscored blank in accordance with the aforementioned United States Patent Number 2,954,725 is preferable for greater strength, scoring of the plastic sheet material along the fold line 38 may also be employed. Alternatively, the window 4 may be notched at the fold line 38 and the frame 2 provided with finger portions at the registering fold line which overlie but are not secured to the marginal portions of the window about the notches in the window to permit bowing of the finger portions at the fold for folding the blank in accordance with the aforementioned United States patent application Serial No. 191,018, or the window may be thermoformed.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the container has a paperboard frame generally designated by the number 102 and a window of semirigid synthetic plastic material generally designated by the number 104. As seen in the illustration of the blank in FIGURE 5, the integrally formed paperboard frame 102 is provided with longitudinal weakening lines 106 and cut to define a locking flap 108, top wall panel 110, front wall panel 112, bottom wall panel 114, rear wall panel 116, and cover panel 118, thus providing a generally rectangular body portion in the erected container with the cover panel 118 overlying the top wall panel 110. End wall panels 120 are hingedly connected to the bottom wall panel 114 and dust flaps 122, 124 are hingedly connected to the rear and front Wall panels 116, 112, respectively, along the transverse fold lines 125. In erecting the blank, adhesive (not shown) is interposed between the locking flap 108 and rear wall panel 116 and between the dust flaps 122, 124 and the end wall panels 120 to lock the container in erected position. The cover 118 is releasably held in place over the top wall panel 110 by the tuck flaps 126 which are hingedly connected thereto along the fold lines 125 and slide between the ends of the top wall panel 110 and the end wall panels 120 as shown in FIGURE 4 to provide frictional engagement therein. The paperboard frame 102 has a generally rectangular window aperture 128 which extends into the front and 4 top wall panels 112, of the container to provide excellent viewing of the contents.

The window 104 of this embodiment similarly is dimensioned larger than the window aperture 128 so that the marginal portions of the frame 102 adjacent the window aperture 128 overlap the corresponding marginal portions of the window 104. The window 104 has a dispensing aperture 130 within the margins of the window aperture 128 and is folded about the fold line 132 into a top wall portion 134 and a front wall portion 136. The window 104 is secured to the frame 102 by a layer of adhesive 138 interposed between and bonding the window 104 and frame 102 along the overlapping marginal portions of the top wall panel 110 and top wall portion 134 to accommodate the thickness of the window material at the fold therein as explained hereinbefore.

In this embodiment, the cover panel 118 overlies only that portion of the window 104 having the dispensing apertur 130 therein so as to provide a replaceably removable closure therefor to prevent contamination during use, and the tuck flaps 126 permit the cover panel to be held in place during non-use. Thus, even when the cover panel 118 is in place, the goods within the container may 'be viewed through the front wall portion 136 of the Window 104.

The paperboard material for the fram should be relatively rigid to provide optimum strength and generally a thickness of 12 to 50 mils has proven satisfactory for most purposes, although heavier corrugated stock may be used for some applications. Since the paperboard may be dyed or printed readily, wide variations in appearance of the container are possible. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, the manufacturers imprint may be located on the removable cover portion so that upon severing it from the frame, a highly personalized or stylized container remains.

The synthetic plastic sheet material employed for the window should be semirigidwith suflicient flexibility to accommodate stresses and impacts occurring during normal usage. The material preferably should have the characteristics of being foldable in accordance with the aforementioned United States Patent Number 2,954,725 and of substantially retaining a fold made therein to permit cold-folding in accordance therewith for rapid operation with unscored blanks to provide high-strength folds. From the standpoint of optimum aesthetic quali-- ties and visibility, the plastic sheeting should be clear and relatively resistant to scratching during normal usage.

Exemplary of the various synthetic plastic sheetings which may be employed are biaxially oriented polystyrene, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyvinyl chloride-acetate copolymer, polyethylene and polypropylene. As a specific example of highly advantageous material, biaxially oriented polystyrene of about 5 to 15 mils in thickness has been particularly effective because of its clarity, high strength and semi-rigidity coupled with sufficient resiliency and flexibility to provide durable folds and resistance to normal impacts.

Although the window in the illustrated embodiments has been secured to the frame by adhesives, other means such as heat-sealing and mechanical engagement may also be employed. The window may have dispensing apertures of various shapes and may extend about a fold line so as to be oriented within a plurality of sides of the container.

Thus, the present invention provides a novel and highly attractive windowed dispenser container which utilizes a paperboard frame and a plastic window to provide a strong and utilitarian assembly providing excellent visibility of the contents and easy removal thereof. The removable cover portion provides protection to the goods from contaminants which might otherwise pass through the dispensing aperture during shipping or storage, and may be readily removed from the dispensing aperture to permit facile withdrawal of the goods through the dispensing aperture.

By securing the frame and wind-ow together to obtain composite action, a relatively large window area may be provided in a relatively high-strength container to permit rapid visual inspection of goods received therein. The container may be fabricated from relatively inexpensive materials and may be economically and easily erected from a relatively economical and easily fabricated blank.

Accordingly, a wide range of container design is possible to provide a highly attractive and relatively strong windowed dispenser container.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A windowed dispenser container having a frame of relatively rigid and opaque sheet material and defined by a plurality of wall panels; a window of semirigid synthetic plastic sheet material with a dispensing aperture therein, said window having a linear fold therein at the intersection between adjacent wall panels of said frame and extending about an edge of said container into said adjacent wall panels; and means securing said window to said frame, said frame overlapping the marginal portions of said window and having a removable cover portion extending across and closing said dispensing aperture for shipping and storage.

2. The windowed dispenser container of claim 1 where in said means securing said window to said frame is an adhesive interposed between and bonding overlapping portions of said window and frame.

3. A windowed dispenser container having an integrally formed paperboard frame defined by a plurality of Wall panels; a window of semirigid synthetic plastic sheet material, said window having a linear fold therein at the intersection between adjacent wall panels of said frame and extending about an edge of said container into said adjacent wall panels; and means securing said window to said frame, said paperboard frame having panels therein defining the sides of the container and a tear line circumscribing a removable cover portion to provide a window aperture therein, said window being of greater dimension than the removable cover portion so that marginal portions of the frame adjacent but outwardly of said tear line overlap corresponding marginal portions of said window, said window having a dispensing aperture therein overlain and closed by said removable cover portion for shipping and storage, said removable cover.

portion being readily separable from the remainder of said frame to expose said window for viewing the contents of said container and said dispensing aperture for removal thereof.

' 4. The container of claim 3 wherein said removable cover portion extends about said edge of said container into said adjacent wall panels.

5. A dispenser container having an integrally formed paperboard frame defined by a plurality of wall panels; a window of semirigid synthetic plastic sheet material having a linear fold therein to provide adjacent wall portions, said paperboard frame having panels therein defining the sides of the container and having a window aperture in adjacent sides of the container with marginal portions thereof about the window aperture overlapping the corresponding margin-a1 portions of said window, said window having a dispensing aperture therein generally with-in the margins of said window aperture, said frame having a cover panel hingedly connected to the edge of one of said wall panels and dimensioned and configured to overlie said dispensing aperture; and means securing said plastic window to said E paperboard frame along a portion of the overlapping marginal portions.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said dispensing aperture is in one of said adjacent wall portions in one side of the container and said removable cover portion overlies said one side of the container.

7. A blank for a six-sided display container having an integrally formed window of semirigid synthetic plastic sheet material; an integrally formed frame of paperboard sheet material having a tear line therein circumscribing a removable cover portion separable from the remainder of the frame to provide a window aperture with marginal portions about said tear line overlapping the corresponding marginal portions of said plastic window, said window having a dispensing aperture therein generally within the margins of said removable cover portion, said frame having weakening lines therein defining folds to be made in forming the container with one of said weakening lines intersecting the side margins of said window; and a layer of adhesive interposed between and bonding said plastic window and paperboard frame along a portion of the overlapping marginal portions.

8. A blank for a six-sided dispenser container having an integrally formed window of semirigid synthetic plastic sheet material; a frame of paperboard sheet material having a window aperture therein, the marginal portions of said frame adjacent but outwardly of said window aperture overlapping the side margins of said window, said window having a. dispensing aperture therein generally within the margins of said window aperture, said frame having weakening lines therein defining folds to be made in forming the container with at least one of said weakening lines intersecting the side margins of said window, one of said weakening lines defining a hingedly connected cover portion dimensioned and configured to extend across said dispending aperture when said blank is erected; and a layer of adhesive interposed between and bonding said plastic window and paperboard frame along a portion of the overlapping marginal portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,517 1/1910 Greene 206-45.3l X 1,537,015 5/1925 Krotoschin 206-4531 1,752,504 4/1930 Penrose 206-45.31 1,847,301 3/1932 Elliot 20645.31 1,910,094 5/1933 Crane et al 221--48 X 2,034,809 3/1936 Grant 20645.31 2,097,858 11/1937 Herz.

2,115,673 4/1938 Stompe 221-63 2,137,398 11/ 1938 Helber 22163 2,730,267 1/ 1956 Marcalus 221-48 3,155,273 11/1964 Cote 22148 X FOREIGN PATENTS 438,057 11/ 1935 Great Britain.

464,373 4/1937 Great Britain.

763,770 12/1956 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Handbook of Plastics; Simonds, Weith, and Bigelow; D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, N.J., 2nd edition, 1949 (reprinted 1955); pp. 575, 577, 583, and 584.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

1. A WINDOWED DISPENSER CONTAINER HAVING A FRAME OF RELATIVELY RIGID AND OPAQUE SHEET MATERIAL AND DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF WALL PANELS; A WINDOW OF SEMIRIGID SYNTHETIC PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL WITH A DISPENSING APERTURE THEREIN, SAID WINDOW HAVING A LINEAR FOLD THEREIN AT THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN ADJACENT WALL PANELS OF SAID FRAME AND EXTENDING ABOUT AN EDGE OF SAID CONTAINER INTO SAID ADJACENT WALL PANELS; AND MEANS SECURING SAID WINDOW TO SAID FRAME, SAID FRAME OVERLAPPING THE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF SAID WINDOW AND HAVING A REMOVABLE COVER PORTION EXTENDING ACROSS AND CLOSING SAID DISPENSING APERTURE FOR SHIPPING AND STORAGE. 